Ingredients Meat & Poultry Chicken Quick & Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes 20 High-Protein Chicken Dinners Ready in 30 Minutes or Less By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 26, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Photo: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle If you’re a fan of chicken, you’re in the right place! These delicious dinners feature chicken cooked in a variety of ways; you may want to try them all. Each dish packs at least 15 grams of protein per serving, which can support muscle repair and bone health and give your body energy. Another bonus? These recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less, so you can have dinner on the table quickly. Try options like our 30-Minute Marry Me Chicken & Spaghetti and Lemony Chicken & Rice Soup for a tasty meal that will leave you feeling satisfied. 01 of 20 Teriyaki Chicken Skillet Casserole with Broccoli Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco Whip up this quick and easy teriyaki chicken casserole in just one skillet—it’s the perfect go-to recipe for hectic weeknights that’s sure to satisfy a crowd. It’s ideal for making use of any leftover chicken and rice you have on hand. If you’re short on leftovers, a rotisserie chicken paired with a package of microwaveable brown rice is a good substitute. View Recipe 02 of 20 30-Minute Marry Me Chicken & Spaghetti Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel This “marry me” chicken pasta adds spaghetti and spinach to the beloved flavor combination and will have you saying “I do” in no time. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty here, with the flavorful oil they’re packed in being used to sauté the onion and chicken while the tomatoes go into the cream sauce. View Recipe 03 of 20 Lemony Chicken & Rice Soup Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Shell Royster The Greek lemon-chicken soup avgolemono is the inspiration for this 20-minute recipe. Eggs and lemon are tempered into the broth to add richness and creaminess. You can use microwaveable brown rice or use 1 cup leftover rice if you have it on hand. View Recipe 04 of 20 Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Mushroom & Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This delectable dinner features tender chicken cutlets smothered in a rich and creamy sauce infused with savory mushrooms and tangy sun-dried tomatoes. View Recipe 05 of 20 Crispy Chicken Cutlets with Butter-Chive Pasta Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower, Claire Spollen You'll be amazed how crisp these schnitzel-inspired cutlets get with only 6 minutes of cooking. View Recipe 06 of 20 Creamy Balsamic Chicken & Mushroom Skillet Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle The sauce in this creamy balsamic chicken and mushroom skillet recipe strikes the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. The shallots, garlic and thyme add aroma and flavor to the dish. Thin-cut chicken cutlets are key for getting dinner on the table quickly. If you can’t find chicken cutlets, make your own: Look for boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are about 8 ounces each. Slice them in half horizontally and pound to an even thickness. View Recipe 07 of 20 Creamy Chicken, Vegetable & Sun-Dried Tomato Soup Photography / Brie Passano, Styling / Sammy Mila / Holly Raibikis This creamy soup is packed with vegetables, including zucchini and carrots. Precooked chicken saves time and energy, so you can make this cozy soup on a busy weeknight, or any day when it's cold out. View Recipe 08 of 20 Skillet Bruschetta Chicken Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster This flavorful skillet chicken bruschetta puts a tasty spin on a traditional dish. Drawing inspiration from the Italian appetizer, we replace the usual toasted bread with protein-packed chicken cutlets. The vibrant and juicy chopped tomato topping remains a constant, complemented by a drizzle of sweet and tangy balsamic glaze. For an added layer of flavor, serve topped with shaved Parmesan cheese or add some chopped olives to the tomato mixture for a briny kick. View Recipe 09 of 20 Creamy Lemon & Dill Skillet Chicken Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This creamy lemon and dill skillet chicken recipe is a true crowd-pleaser and makes for a perfect weeknight dinner. The drippings and fond from the pan are at the heart of the tangy, vibrant pan sauce that you serve with the chicken. Drizzle any extra over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes served on the side. View Recipe 10 of 20 Chopped Salad with Chicken & Creamy Chipotle Dressing Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Melissa Gray / Kay Clarke This chopped salad with chicken is smoky and zesty thanks to the creamy chipotle dressing. Cilantro adds a pop of freshness to each bite. View Recipe 11 of 20 Easy Chicken Tenders with Lemon & Garlic Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley The secret to this easy chicken tenders recipe lies in the tangy lemon-and-garlic drizzle that picks up the savory flavors left in the pan from pan-searing. Feel free to experiment with other citrus flavors like oranges, mandarins or limes by swapping out the lemon zest and juice. View Recipe 12 of 20 Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Lindsey Lower Goat cheese is a luscious and creamy cheese that's lower in calories, fat and sodium than other soft cheeses. Here, we combine it with fresh herbs and garlic, then stuff the mixture inside chicken breasts for a deliciously speedy weeknight dinner. View Recipe 13 of 20 Fast Chicken Chili Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl This quickie chili comes together in a flash, making it ideal for busy weeknights. Stirring mashed cannellini beans into the chili adds body. You could also use navy or pinto beans. View Recipe 14 of 20 Superfast Crispy Chicken Thighs Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower These chicken thighs get a delicious golden brown crisp in just about 25 minutes and pair well with any sides. View Recipe 15 of 20 Chicken Tomato Tortilla Soup Johnny Autry Transform canned tomato soup by adding chicken, black beans and corn for a filling and quick lunch or dinner. Garnish with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, avocado and tortilla chips. View Recipe 16 of 20 Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast Sandwiches Matthew Francis This caprese stuffed chicken breast features the classic ingredients of a caprese salad—juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil and balsamic vinegar—nestled into a seasoned and cooked chicken breast that can be picked up and eaten like a sandwich. View Recipe 17 of 20 Chicken & Broccoli Stir-Fry Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This juicy chicken and broccoli stir-fry features tender-crisp broccoli coated in a velvety sauce flavored with hoisin—a flavorful sauce made from fermented soybean paste that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tangy. Try this easy stir-fry with chicken tenders, boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or even pork tenderloin for a different twist. View Recipe 18 of 20 Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster This creamy garlic Parmesan chicken recipe is as simple (and delicious!) as it gets. Serve these saucy chicken cutlets over pasta or brown rice, or enjoy them on their own with a side of mashed potatoes. View Recipe 19 of 20 Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco A one-pan chicken dinner doesn't get much easier, or more satisfying, than this. In just half an hour, you can have a complete meal on the table that doesn't require loads of dishes afterward. Serve this hearty chicken and potatoes dinner with a simple side salad to sneak in another serving of veggies. View Recipe 20 of 20 20-Minute Creamy Skillet Chicken with Corn, Tomato & Basil Jacob Fox This saucy 20-minute chicken recipe features fresh summer corn, tomatoes and basil. Serve this light and tangy quick dinner over pasta or brown rice. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit